M'sian family in new 'body-snatching' case

PENANG (Malaysia) - A NEW dispute over Islamic conversion has erupted in Malaysia, with the family of a Hindu man who committed suicide battling Islamic authorities over the rights to the body.

Religious authorities said Elangesvaran Benedict, who died Sunday, was a Muslim convert and should be buried according to the rites of the religion.

However, his brother Selvam said the family had no knowledge of the conversion and that Elangesvaran died as a practising Hindu. His body was being held at a hospital while the dispute is resolved.

The case is the latest in a series of allegations of 'body-snatching' by Islamic authorities, who have seized remains against the objections of non-Muslim family members.

Malaysia's government has proposed new rules on converting to Islam, in a bid to prevent the wrangles that have split families and incited racial tensions in this multicultural country.

In the latest case, Mr Selvam has asked the Penang High Court to resolve the dispute over the conversion, which the authorities said took place in Penang.

'As far as the family is concerned, Elangesvaran has never informed us of any intention to convert,' he told reporters on Wednesday.

'We are hoping to get this matter resolved as quickly as possible so that we can reclaim my brother's body and bury him according to Hindu rites,' he said.

Mr Selvam said that after a report of his brother's death was lodged with police, the family was informed they could not claim the body since he was a convert and would be buried according to Muslim rites.

He said the family was only given a scribbled note allegedly written by Elangesvaran about his conversion, but it did not bear any signature or thumbprint of the deceased or any witnesses.

AFP